Vending machine for retaining and dispensing feminine hygiene products through a novel coin operating apparatus

Abstract

A vending machine that dispense feminine hygiene products. Specifically, this invention is a coin-operated vending machine that dispenses sanitary napkins and tampons. This invention allows a user to purchase a feminine hygiene product by placing a coin or multiple coins in a slot within the vending machine and pressing a product release button. The product is then dispensed to the consumer. The apparatus also provides a mechanism for retrieving a coin in the event that the vending machine is out of a specific feminine hygiene. Further, in the free condition, this product dispenser has a time delay to prevent users from rapidly removing all of the products.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus to retain and dispense feminine hygiene products, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a closed cabinet with at least a front door with a tampon rack and a spaced apart, parallel sanitary napkin rack, the front door including a front panel, and a back panel; 
 b. said tampon rack formed from at least a tampon back wall and a pair of oppositely disposed, spaced apart, parallel rails affixed to the tampon back wall, and said tampon rack retaining a multiplicity of vertically aligned tampons, a tampon weight including a tampon magnet with said tampon weight exerting a downward force on the multiplicity of tampons when removably placed onto an uppermost tampon in said tampon rack, a tampon sensor plate affixed to and at a location adjacent to a bottom of said tampon rack, said tampon sensor plate having a tampon sensor that mates with said tampon magnet, wherein when said tampon rack is out of tampons and said tampon magnet and said tampon sensor are aligned, an electrical circuit is closed and a tampon light is illuminated whereby illumination of said tampon light is visible from said front door; 
 c. said sanitary napkin rack formed from at least a sanitary napkin back wall and a pair of oppositely disposed, spaced apart, parallel rails affixed to the sanitary napkin back wall, and said sanitary napkin rack retaining a multiplicity of vertically aligned sanitary napkins, a sanitary napkin weight including a sanitary napkin magnet with said napkin weight exerting a downward force on the multiplicity of sanitary napkins when removably placed onto an uppermost sanitary napkin in said sanitary napkin rack, a sanitary napkin sensor plate affixed to and at a location adjacent to the bottom of said sanitary napkin rack, said sanitary napkin sensor plate having a sanitary napkin sensor that mates with said sanitary napkin magnet, whereby when said sanitary napkin rack is out of sanitary napkins and said sanitary napkin magnet and said sanitary napkin sensor are aligned, an electrical circuit is closed and a napkin light is illuminated whereby illumination of napkin light is visible from said front panel; 
 d. said front panel having a front face plate and working in conjunction with a first pushbutton and a first coin slot assembly and also working in conjunction with a second pushbutton and a second coin slot assembly, said first coin slot assembly having at least a first rear coin slot plate with an opening, and a second coin slot assembly having at least a second rear coin slot plate with an opening; 
 e. a tampon pusher having a front curved face directly adjacent a lowest tampon member in said tampon rack, and upon activation of said first pushbutton, said first coin slot assembly is fully displaced within said cabinet away from front door, said front curved face fits through a tampon opening and pushes said lowest tampon member off a tampon tray; 
 f. a sanitary napkin push rod including push rod teeth that interlock with pinion gear teeth on a pinion gear with said pinion gear having a central hub affixed to a shaft that is affixed to a sanitary napkin dispenser adjacent a lowermost sanitary napkin in the sanitary napkin rack, and upon activation of said second pushbutton, said sanitary napkin push rod moves inward towards said back panel, said pinion gear, said shaft, and said sanitary napkin dispenser rotate in unison in the clockwise direction to force said lowermost sanitary napkin to drop into a sanitary napkin dispenser tray; 
 g. a first mechanical timing plate assembly affixed to the interior of said apparatus, said first mechanical timing plate assembly having a first interior chamber adjacent to a first top circular hole containing internal threads that receive a first threaded screw, the first interior chamber having a first interior end wall that acts as a stopper for said first threaded screw, the amount of air within said first interior chamber dependent upon the distance that the first interior screw is threaded into the first interior chamber, an opening in the top wall of said first coin slot assembly to insert a tool to adjust the distance of the first threaded screw into the said interior chamber, a first plunger rod affixed at a proximal end to said first rear coin slot plate at the location of the hole in said first coin slot plate and a first plunger affixed to a distal end of said push rod, wherein when said first pushbutton is activated, said plunger engages the top surface of said timing plate at the location of said first top hole and is retained on said first mechanical timing plate until released from said first mechanical timing plate, the length of time that the first plunger is retained onto the first mechanical timing plate dependent upon the amount of air within said interior chamber so that when the screw is entirely within the interior chamber, the retention time is greatest and when the screw is removed from the interior chamber, the retention time is the least, while said first plunger is engaged with the first mechanical timing plate, the pushbutton is inactivated making it unable for a user to again push the pushbutton and cause a tampon to be dispensed until the first plunger is released; and 
 h. a second mechanical timing plate assembly affixed to the interior of said apparatus, said second mechanical timing plate assembly having a second interior chamber adjacent to a second top circular hole containing internal threads that receive a second threaded screw, the second interior chamber having a second interior end wall that acts as a stopper for said second threaded screw, the amount of air within said second interior chamber dependent upon the distance that the second interior screw is threaded into the second interior chamber, an opening in the top wall of said second coin slot assembly to insert tool to adjust the distance of the second threaded screw into said interior chamber, a second plunger rod affixed at a proximal end of said second rear coin slot plate at the location of the hole in said second rear coin slot plate and a second plunger affixed to a distal end of said push rod, wherein when said second pushbutton is activated, said second plunger engages a top surface of said second mechanical timing plate and is retained on said second mechanical timing plate until released from said second mechanical timing plate, the length of time that the second plunger is retained onto the second mechanical timing plate dependent upon the amount of air within said interior chamber so that when the screw is entirely within the interior chamber, the retention time is greatest and when the screw is removed from the interior chamber, the retention time is released, while said second plunger is engaged with said second mechanical timing plate, the pushbutton is inactivated making it unable for a user to again push the pushbutton and cause a sanitary napkin to be dispensed until the second plunger is released from the second mechanical timing plate. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus to retain and dispense at least one feminine hygiene products, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a closed cabinet with at least a front door with at least one feminine hygiene product rack and the front door including a front panel and a back panel; 
 b. said at least one feminine hygiene product rack formed from an at least one feminine hygiene product back wall and a pair of oppositely disposed, spaced apart, parallel rails affixed to the at least one feminine hygiene product back wall, and said at least one feminine hygiene product rack retaining a multiplicity of vertically aligned at least one feminine hygiene product, an at least one feminine hygiene product weight including at least a magnet with said at least one feminine hygiene product weight exerting a downward force on the multiplicity of at least one feminine hygiene product when removably placed onto an uppermost at least one feminine hygiene product in said at least one feminine hygiene product rack, at least one feminine hygiene product sensor plate having at least one feminine hygiene product sensor that mates with said at least one feminine hygiene product magnet, wherein when said at least one feminine hygiene product rack is out of at least one feminine hygiene product and said at least one feminine hygiene product magnet and said at least one feminine hygiene product sensor are aligned, an electrical circuit is closed and an at least one feminine hygiene product light is illuminated whereby illumination of said at least one feminine hygiene product light is visible from said front door; 
 c. said front panel having a front face plate and working in conjunction with an at least one pushbutton and at least one coin slot assembly and said at least one coin slot assembly having at least a first rear coin slot plate and an opening; 
 d. said at least one feminine hygiene dispensing assembly selected from the group consisting of: at least one feminine hygiene product pusher having a front curved face and directly adjacent a lowest at least one feminine hygiene product in said at least one feminine hygiene product rack, and upon activation of said at least one pushbutton, said at least one coin slot assembly is fully displaced within said cabinet away from said front door, and said front curved face plate fits through an at least one feminine hygiene product opening and pushes said lowermost at least one feminine hygiene product off at an at least one feminine hygiene product tray, and push rod teeth that interlock with pinion gear teeth on a pinion gear with said pinion gear having a central huh affixed to a shaft that is affixed to an at least one feminine hygiene product dispenser adjacent a lowermost at least one feminine hygiene product on said at least one feminine hygiene product rack, and upon activation of said at least one pushbutton, said at least one feminine hygiene product push rod moves inward towards said back panel, said pinion gear, said shaft, and said at least one feminine hygiene product dispenser rotate in unison in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to force said at least one feminine hygiene product into an at least one feminine hygiene product dispenser tray; and 
 e. an at least one mechanical timing plate assembly affixed to the interior of said apparatus, said at least one mechanical timing plate assembly having a first interior chamber adjacent to a first top circular hole containing internal threads that receive a first threaded screw, the first interior chamber having a first interior end wall that acts as a stopper for said first threaded screw, an amount of air within said first interior chamber dependent upon the distance that the first interior screw is threaded into the first interior chamber, an opening in the top wall of said first coin slot assembly to insert a tool to adjust the distance of the first threaded screw into the said interior chamber, a first plunger rod affixed at a proximal end to said first rear coin slot plate at the location of the hole in said first coin slot plate and said plunger affixed to a distal end of said push rod, wherein when said at least one pushbutton is activated, said plunger engages the top surface of said timing plate at the location of said first top hole and is retained on said first mechanical timing plate until released from said first mechanical timing plate, the length of time that the first plunger is retained onto the first mechanical timing plate dependent upon the amount of air within said interior chamber so that when the screw is entirely within the interior chamber, the retention time is greatest and when the screw is removed from the interior chamber, the retention time is the least, while said first plunger is engaged with the first mechanical timing plate, the said at least one pushbutton is inactivated making it unable for a user to again push the at least one pushbutton and cause said at least one feminine hygiene product to be dispensed until the plunger is released. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus to retain and dispense at least one feminine hygiene product in accordance with  claim 2 , the apparatus further comprising: said at least one feminine hygiene product is a tampon. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus to retain and dispense at least one feminine hygiene product in accordance with  claim 2 , the apparatus further comprising: said at least one feminine hygiene product is a sanitary napkin. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus to retain and dispense at least one feminine hygiene products, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a closed cabinet with at least a front door with at least one feminine hygiene product rack and the front door including a front panel; 
 b. said at least one feminine hygiene product rack formed from an at least one feminine hygiene product back wall and a pair of oppositely disposed, spaced apart, parallel rails affixed to the at least one feminine hygiene product back wall, and said at least one feminine hygiene product rack retaining at least two vertically aligned feminine hygiene products, an at least one feminine hygiene product weight including at least a magnet with said at least one feminine hygiene product weight exerting a downward force on at least two of said feminine hygiene products when removably placed onto an uppermost at least one feminine hygiene product in said at least one feminine hygiene product rack, at least one feminine hygiene product sensor plate having at least one feminine hygiene product sensor that mates with said at least one feminine hygiene product magnet, wherein when said at least one feminine hygiene product rack is out of at least one feminine hygiene product and said at least one feminine hygiene product magnet and said at least one feminine hygiene product sensor are aligned, an electrical circuit is closed; 
 c. said front panel having a front face plate and working in conjunction with an at least one pushbutton and at least one coin slot assembly and said at least one coin slot assembly having at least a first rear coin slot plate and an opening; 
 d. said at least one feminine hygiene dispensing assembly selected from the group consisting of: at least one feminine hygiene product pusher having a front curved face and directly adjacent a lowest at least one feminine hygiene product in said at least one feminine hygiene product rack, and upon activation of said at least one pushbutton, said at least one coin slot assembly is fully displaced within said cabinet away from said front door, and said front curved face plate fits through an at least one feminine hygiene product through at least one feminine hygiene product opening and pushes said lowermost at least one feminine hygiene product off at an at least one feminine hygiene product tray, and push rod teeth that interlock with pinion gear teeth on a pinion gear with said pinion gear having a central hub affixed to a shaft that is affixed to an at least one feminine hygiene product dispenser adjacent a lowermost at least one feminine hygiene product on said at least one feminine hygiene product rack, and upon activation of said at least one pushbutton, said at least one feminine hygiene product push rod moves inward towards said back panel, said pinion gear, said shaft, and said at least one feminine hygiene product dispenser rotate in unison in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to force said at least one feminine hygiene product into an at least one feminine hygiene product dispenser tray; and 
 e. an at least one mechanical timing plate assembly affixed to the interior of said apparatus, said at least one mechanical timing plate assembly having a first interior chamber adjacent to a first top circular hole containing internal threads that receive a first threaded screw, the first interior chamber having a first interior end wall that acts as a stopper for said first threaded screw, the amount of air within said first interior chamber dependent upon the distance that the first interior screw is threaded into the first interior chamber, an opening in a top wall of said first coin slot assembly to insert a tool to adjust the distance of the first threaded screw into the said interior chamber, a first plunger rod affixed at a proximal end to said first rear coin slot plate at the location of the hole in said first coin slot plate and said plunger affixed to a distal end of said push rod, wherein when said at least one pushbutton is activated, said plunger engages the top surface of said timing plate at the location of said first top hole and is retained on said first mechanical timing plate until released from said first mechanical timing plate, the length of time that the first plunger is retained onto the first mechanical timing plate dependent upon the amount of air within said interior chamber so that when the screw is entirely within the interior chamber, the retention time is greatest and when the screw is removed from the interior chamber, the retention time is the least, while said first plunger is engaged with the first mechanical timing plate, the said at least one pushbutton is inactivated making it unable for a user to again push the at least one pushbutton and cause said at least one feminine hygiene product to be dispensed until the plunger is released. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus to retain and dispense at least one feminine hygiene product in accordance with  claim 5 , the apparatus further comprising: said at least one feminine hygiene product is a tampon. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus to retain and dispense at least one feminine hygiene product in accordance with  claim 5 , the apparatus further comprising: said at least one feminine hygiene product is a sanitary napkin.